Food mixing machine

ABSTRACT

Mixing and extruding apparatus for the preparation of a confection comprises front and rear bearing blocks in which two axles are journaled, mix extrude screws detachably secured to said axles and extending into a mixing chamber, and means for detachably clamping the mixing chamber to the front bearing block. The mixing chamber includes a barrel in which a recirculation plate is positioned to rotate the mix back into the screws for continuous mixing and extruding. A slidable gate can be moved to open an outlet aperture in the mixing chamber so that the mixture can be expelled from the chamber by the screws.

United States Patent Stollman et al.

[ 51 Feb. 22, 1972 [541 FOOD MIXING MACHINE [72] Inventors: Richard A. Stollman, Cheltenham, Pa;

211 Appl. No.: 16,403

[52] US. Cl. ..259/6, 222/413, 259/21, 259/41 [51] Int. Cl. ..B0lf 7/08, B0 1f 15/02 Field of Search ..259/6, 21, 41, 64, 104, DIG. 2, 259/D1G. 13, DIG. 14; 107/36; 18/2 EM, 2 EP, 2

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,154,808 11/1964 Ahlefeld, Jr. et al 107/36 UX 3,305,894 2/1967 Boden et al. ..18/2 EM Primary Examiner-Walter A. Scheel Assistant Examiner-Alan I. Cantor Attorney-Darby & Darby [57] ABSTRACT Mixing and extruding apparatus for the preparation of a confection comprises front and rear bearing blocks in which two axles are journaled, mix extrude screws detachably secured to said axles and extending into a mixing chamber, and means for detachably clamping the mixing chamber to the front bearing block. The mixing chamber includes a barrel in which a recirculation plate is positioned to rotate the mix back into the screws for continuous mixing and extruding. A slidable gate can be moved to open an outlet aperture in the mixing chamber so that the mixture can be expelled from the chamber by the screws.

7 Claims, 7 Drawing Figures PATENTED Z Z 7 3,643,928

sum 1 OF 3 Y FIG. i

INVENTOR. RIC H ARD A. STOLLMAN VINCENT N. CEDRONE BY ATTORNEYS PATENTEDFEB 22 1972 SHEET 2 BF 3 INVENTOR. RICHARD A. STOLLMAN VINCENT N. CEDRONE ATTORNEYS PAIENTEDFEBZZ I972 3.648 .928

sum 3 [IF 3 INVENTOR.

RICHARD A. STOLL N VINCENT N. CEDRO ATTORNEYS FOOD MIXING MACHINE This invention relates to apparatus for mixing and extruding food material such as confections and the like.

There are many known devices which are capable of mixing and/or extruding food materials, including confections, on a large scale. Because of the expense, size and complexity of such known machines, and the difficulty involved in operating and cleaning them, their use has been generally confined to commercial installations from which the finished product is shipped to retail outlets for sale to the general public.

For commercial reasons, it may be desirable to ship the ingredients of certain confections to retail outlets where they can be properly mixed to form a confection product at or just before the time it is to be sold to the consumer, An example of such a product is fudge which can now be prepared as a powdered mix to be combined with water, in proper proportions, to form an instant fudge. The product is appealing to consumers, particularly where it is prepared to order." It can be prepared in a suitable mix extrude machine in small batches (e.g., pounds) and in a short time (e.g., about minutes). However, there are no presently available machines which (a) can conveniently be used for such relatively small quantities, (b) can be used and cleaned by unskilled personnel, and (c) are priced to sell to the type of small eating place which would ordinarily desire to sell the confection.

This invention provides a mix extrude machine which satisfies the above criteria. It is a relatively simply device which can be easily disassembled for cleaning and maintenance. It can be operated semiautomatically and requires relatively little power to operate. The machine can be produced readily in large numbers for sale throughout the country.

Briefly, in accordance with the invention, a pair of axles are supported in front and rear bearing blocks. The axles extend into a mixing chamber where they are interlocked with respective mix extrude screws. The mixing chamber includes a recirculation plate which causes the food mixture to continually recirculate through the screws until it is desired to extrude the finished product through a gate at the base of the mixing chamber. Special means are provided for detachably clamping the mixing chamber to the front bearing block in such a way as to permit ready separation of the two, yet secure and reliable operation of the machine.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a side view, partially in section, of a mix extrude machine according to the invention;

FIG. 2 is a top plan view of the machine;

FIG. 3 is a sectional view along the line 3-3 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a side sectional view along the line 4-4 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a front view showing the outlet gate of the machine;

FIG. 6 is a sectional view along the line 66 of FIG. 4; and

FIG. 7 is a detailed view of the axle and screw interlocking means of the invention.

The device is retained in a rectangular housing 10 (FIG. 1) which is divided into forward and rear compartments 12 and 14 by a vertical divider 16. The driving means are located in the rear compartment 12 while the feed and mixing apparatus are in the forward compartment 14 and accessible for cleaning or maintenance purposes by removal of a front panel 18.

The powdered confection is loaded into a funnellike hopper through a hinged lid 22 in the top of housing 10. Hopper 20 may be detachably secured to the interior of housing 10 in any suitable fashion for quick removal through the front of the housing when front panel 18 is removed. Powder in hopper 20 drops into a tubular outlet 23 in which a feed screw (not shown) rotates to provide a steady flow of powder as shown at 24.

A mixing chamber including an oblong barrel 26 is positioned to receive the powdered discharge from hopper outlet 23 at a convenient height within housing 10. Barrel 26 extends upwardly from a rounded casing 28 which is horizontally disposed and terminates in forward and rear flanges 30 and 32, respectively. Front flange 30 extends through a complementary opening 31 in the front panel 18 and is flush therewith, As explained in further detail below, the rear flange 32 is clamped against a bearing block 34 (during normal operation) which in turn is bolted or otherwise permanently secured to the frame of housing 10. Block 34 may include tabs 35 which mate with respective notches 37 in the edges of flange 32 for registration purposes.

Two standard ball bearings 36 (FIG. 4) with appropriate packing 38 are fitted into suitable openings in bearing block 34. An annular bearing pusher 39 is bolted to the rear of bearing block 34 to hold the bearings 36 within the block. A pair of parallel axles 40 are rotatably received within front bearing block 34 with an end of each axle extending slightly into the rounded casing 28. The opposite ends of the two axles 40 are also supported in suitable ball bearings and thrust bearings (not shown) within a rear bearing block 44 (FIG. 2). The rear bearing block 44 is secured to the front bearing block 34 by four threaded comer struts 46 which are inserted into block 34 at their front ends and secured by cooperating nuts 48 at the rear. Hardened thrust washers 49 are mounted on each axle 40 behind block 44.

Axles 40 include meshing gears 50 mounted between bearing blocks 34 and 44 for reasons which will become apparent below. Additionally, one of the axles 40 includes a sprocket wheel 52 to the rear of its gear 50. Sprocket 52 is driven through a chain 54 which engages a second sprocket 56 driven by the output shaft 58 (with suitable gear reduction) of an electric motor 60. The motor is also secured in a suitable fashion to the frame of housing 10. The powder-dispensing screw (not shown) within hopper outlet 23 may also be driven by motor 60 through a drive shaft 61 and a second chain drive 63.

Each of the axles 40 engages a mix extrude screw 62 (FIGS. 2 and 4) which extends horizontally through casing 28 beneath the barrel 26. The screws 62 are detachably retained on their respective axles 40 by an interlocking arrangement in which a pair of keys 64 and 65 (FIGS. 6 and 7) extending radially from each of the axles 40 engage respective slots 66 and 67 within each axleJThe screws, of course, during operation are rotated so as to retain this locking relationship (i.e., counterclockwise in FIG. 6). Casing 28 is open in the area beneath barrel 26 so that the food mix fed into the barrel from the hopper 20 can be exposed to the mixing and kneading action of the rotating screws.

It is very important that the machine be capable of quick and easy disassembly for cleaning purposes. The foregoing interlocking arrangement of the screws and axles is advantageous in this respect. However, the invention also provides a simplified clamping device which enables the user of the equipment to remove the entire mixing chamber from housing 10.

In the preferred embodiment, separate clamping devices are arranged on each side of the machine. Each clamping device includes upper and lower links 74 and 76 (FIG. 1) pivotally secured at one end to opposite ends of a rectangular block 78 which is retained at the back of bearing block 34 by bolts 75. An eccentric cam roller 80 (FIG. 3) is rotatably mounted in the opposite ends of links 74 and 76 and a handle member 82 extends outwardly from the center of cam roller 80. A stiffener strip 84 may be welded to flange 32 and adapted to be contacted by cam 80. When the handle 82 is rotated from the dashed line to the solid line position (FIGS. 2 and 3), the cam member 80 rotates to jam or clamp flange 32 between stiffener 84 and bearing block 34. Stiffener 84 may be omitted if the flange 32 is thick enough to support the mixing chamber without stiffening.

It is necessary to recirculate the confection mixture during the actual mix extrude operation. For this purpose, a recirculation plate is mounted in barrel 26 slanting upwardly and to the rear from the front of the apparatus. As the screws 62 push the food mixture to the front of the chamber. recirculation plate 90 pushes the mix up and back over itself and into the front of the machine.

A rectangular gate 94 (FIGS. 4 and 5) is mounted to slide vertically along the front flange 30. Gate 94 includes an aperture 96 which opens into a nozzle 98 through which the finished product can be extruded. To hold the gate open (as indicated in solid lines in FIG. 4), an eccentric cam roller 100 is pivotally supported in opposing brackets 102 and 104 which are bolted to the interior surface of flange 30. Cam roller 100 is operated by a handle 106 and is adapted to press against two walls 108 and 110 projecting from gate 94 when the handle 106 is pulled upwardly. Suitable stop means (not shown) may be included to limit the downward movement of gate 94.

Where the finished product is a solid (such as fudge) containing fats, heating of the mix will reduce power requirements if the fats are caused to melt slightly during mixing so that they will act as a lubricant. Such heating may be provided by warming the barrel 26 to a temperature of about 95 F. by convection heating means (not shown).

The operation of the device may be controlled by suitable electric circuits under control of the user. In a typical cycle, the powdered confection is first loaded into hopper 20 and the total water required dumped directly into barrel 26. After a start switch is actuated, the metal parts are allowed to warm up for about 5 minutes. Then the motor 60 is operated to drive the hopper feed and mixing screws 62. This portion of the cycle continues for about minutes during which the powder and water are mixed and continually kneaded. After 10 minutes the motor and heating means may be turned off," and a ready signal given. The operator can then dispense the confection by sliding gate 94 into its open position and actuating the motor again until the confection has been emptied from the mixing chamber.

To clean the device, the front panel 18 is first removed. The camming rollers 80 are released to enable removal of the mixing chamber from the bearing assembly. The screws may then be unlocked from their respective axles 40, and the parts all cleaned separately. Desirably, the parts of the machine which will contact food should be made of stainless steel.

The invention, of course, is not limited to the specific configuration illustrated. By way of example, where 10 pounds of a fudge confection are to be prepared in a batch, the screws 62 may be 3 inches in diameter with a i k-inch pitch. They may be rotated at 6870 r.p.m. by a l-horsepower motor 60. Nu-

merous modifications of these and other features of the invention will be obvious to those skilled in the art.

What is claimed is: 1. Apparatus for mixing and dispensing confections, comprising a bearing assembly including front and rear bearing blocks, a mixing chamber including a lower casing and an upwardly extending barrel, said casing including a rear flange adapted to engage said front'bearing book, a dispensing opening in its front end, and recirculation means for recirculating a mixture within said barrel, two axles, each being supported in said front and rear bearing blocks and extending into said casing,

material-conveying screws detachably interlocked with respective ones of said axles and extending through said casing beneath said barrel,

clamping means for detachably securing said mixing chamber to said bearing assembly, and

a gate for selectively opening or closing said dispensing opening.

2. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said recircula tion means comprises a recirculation plate mounted in said barrel for recirculating the mixture from the front of the screws to the back thereof.

3. Apparatus according to claim 2, wherein said clamping means includes an eccentric cam roller on each side of said mixing chamber, said cam rollers being secured to said hearing assembly and rotatably to urge said rear flange against said front bearing block.

4. Apparatus according to claim 3, including a hopper for disgaensing powder into said barrel.

. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein each of said axles includes a locking key and each of said screws includes a locking slot into which a corresponding key is inserted.

6. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said clamping means includes an eccentric cam roller on each side of said mixing chamber, said cam rollers being secured to said bearing assembly and rotatable to urge said rear flange against said front bearing block.

7. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said gate includes a movable handle including locking means for securing said gate in an open position.

t t t 

1. Apparatus for mixing and dispensing confections, comprising a bearing assembly including front and rear bearing blocks, a mixing chamber including a lower casing and an upwardly extending barrel, said casing including a rear flange adapted to engage said front bearing bock, a dispensing opening in its front end, and recirculation means for recirculating a mixture within said barrel, two axles, each being supported in said front and rear bearing blocks and extending into said casing, material-conveying screws detachably interlocked with respective ones of said axles and extending through said casing beneath said barrel, clamping means for detachably securing said mixing chamber to said bearing assembly, and a gate for selectively opening or closing said dispensing opening.
 2. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said recirculation means comprises a recirculation plate mounted in said barrel for recirculating the mixture from the front of the screws to the back thereof.
 3. Apparatus according to claim 2, wherein said clamping means includes an eccentric cam roller on each side of said mixing chamber, said cam rollers being secured to said bearing assembly and rotatably to urge said rear flange against said front bearing block.
 4. Apparatus according to claim 3, including a hopper for dispensing powder into said barrel.
 5. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein each of said axles includes a locking key and each of said screws includes a locking slot into which a corresponding key is inserted.
 6. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said clamping means includes an eccentric cam roller on each side of said mixing chamber, said cam rollers being secured to said bearing assembly and rotatable to urge said rear flange against said front bearing block.
 7. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said gate includes a movable handle including locking means for securing said gate in an open position. 